Traction wheel or runner.



.PATENTED OCT. 20, 1903.

LSELL. TEAGTION WHEEL 0E RUNNER.`

APPLIOATIUN IfILED MAB.Y24. 1903.

. H0 MODEL.

PATENT Patented October 20, 1903.

Fries.

VANDREW SELL, OF MORA, MINNESOTA.

TRACTIQN WHEEL OR RUNNER.

EFECIFIUATION forming* pari; Of Letters Patent NO. 741,938, datedOctober 20, 1903.

Application filed March 24 1903. Serial No, 149.375. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, ANDREW SELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mora, in the county of Kanabec and State of Minnesota, haveinvented a new and useful Vehicle Wheel or Runner, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicle Wheels or runners, and has for itsobjects to produce a device of this character simple of construction,edicient in operation, and one which will travel smoothly and freelydirectly over-the surface of the ground or over snow.

To these ends the invention comprises the details of construction andcombination of parts more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a pairof runners coustructed and connected in accordance with my invention.Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation o f one of the runners.Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates the vehicle-axle provided with abolster 2, which latter sustains one end of the vehicle-body, as usual.These parts may be of any suitable or desired construction and material,inasmuch as they constitute no part of my invention. Fixed in anysuitable manner to the opposite ends of the axle are runners 3 4c,constructed in accordance with my invention, and inasmuch as theserunners are identical in construction and operation I will describe butone in detail.

Each runner has a framework comprising a top horizontal bar 5, a lowerbar 6, and side members '7, which latter lie at opposite sides of thetop and bottom bars and are suitably spaced apart thereby to formlongitudinal channels between the side members for the purposehereinafter described. The side members are preferably in the form ofsheetmetal skeleton plates, each having a top portion whichextendslongitudinally of the top bar and projects vertically above theupper face of the same, a lower portion which extends longitudinally ofthe bottom bar and projects vertically beneath the lower face of thesaine, and end connecting-webs 8, which project a suitable distancebeyond the top and bottom bars of the frame at the ends thereof. Thewebs 8 of the side members receive between them polygonal rollers9,which are journaled for rotation on suitable axles, there being two ofthese rollers for each runner, one at either end thereof, to sustain anendless chain 10, which constitutes the tread `of the runner and now tobe described.

The chain l0 is made up of a series of links 11, pivotally connected onewith another in any suitable manner and each having a hori` zontalportion 12 and vertical sides or flanges 13, which latter lie atopposite sides of the framework of the runner in vorder to guide thechain in its travel around the framework of the runner. Mounted insuitable bearings at the top of each of the vertical Iianges 13 is anantifrict-ion-roller 14, and these antifriction-rollers bear upon theside members of the runner-frames to render the chain frictionless inits travel around the same. The lower edges of the side members areprovided with laterally-extending ribs with which the edges of therollers 14 engage to prevent the chain becoming disconnected from theframe.

Within the longitudinal channel l5, formed at the lower side of therunner-frame by the side members projecting below the bottom bar 6, ismounted in suitable bearings antifriction-rollers 16, against which theupper faces of the horizontal portions of the links travelantifrictionally during the passage of therunner over the ground, aswill be readily understood. 18 indicates vertical braces which connectthe top and bottom bars of the frame at their en ds, and 19 indicateshorizontal braces which connect the ends of the runners in pairs.

The operation of the device is as follows: The outer faces of the links11 conjointly constitute the tread of the runner in its travel over theground, and during such travel the chain will ride upon the end rollers9 at the ends ofthe frame, upon the antifriction-rollers 16 at thebottom of the frame, and the rollers 14, sustained by the side flangesof the links and bearing upon the sides of the frame, thus renderingthechain frictionless'in its Inovement around the frame., and as thevehicle is drawn forward the chain travels around the IOO frame, thuscausing the runner to ride smoothly and evenly and with slight frictionover the surface of the ground or over snow.

From the'foregoing description it will be seen that I produce acomparatively simple device for attaining the ends in view and one whichin practice will be eiiicient and durable, and it is to be understoodthat I do not limit myself to the precise details herein shown anddescribed, inasmuch as minor changes may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit orscope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim isl. In a device of theclass described, the combination with a frame provided at its lower edgewith antifriction devices, of rollers journaled in said frame, a chaintraveling upon said rollers, and aniifriction devices carried by saidchain and bearing upon the sides of lthe frame.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a framehaving a channel formed in its lower edge, of antifriction-rollersjournaled in said channel, rollers journaled in said frame, a chaintraveling upon said rollers, and antifriction-rollers carried by saidchain and bearing upon the sides of the frame.

Mmes

3. In a device of the class described, the combiuationwith a framehaving a channel formed in its lower edge, of antifriction-roll- -ersjournaled in said channel, supportingjournaled in said frame, a chaintraveling upon said supporting-rollers and provided with side iiangesembracing the frame, and antifriction-rollers carried by the sideflanges and bearing upon the sides of the frame, said rollers alsoengaging the longitudinal ribs to prevent escape of the chain from theframe.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ANDREV SELL.

Witnesses:

HARRY STONE, LAUD R. RUTHERFORD.

